The $150,000 Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian Oaks highlights the first of two huge days of racing to round out the Ladbrokes Summer Racing Festival.
For the first time, the Oaks is being raced under lights on Friday night. 10 fillies have accepted for the 2100m Listed race.
Strutt Stakes winner Suntora from the Nick Ryan stable is likely to be the favourite after her last-to-first win in the traditional lead-up race,
Suntora was ridden by Jamie Melham in Hobart, and Rhys McLeod has the sit on Friday night.
Apart from Suntora, the Hayes team has last start maiden winner Cinch engaged. Liam Howley is sending Luvya Mumma across while Move The Torana, from the Lindsey Smith stable, rounds out the interstate contingent.
Moorlands Miss and Silver Dagger are the main chances of the prize money staying in Tasmania. Moorlands Miss was solid when third in the Tasmanian Derby, while Silver Dagger was runner-up to Suntora in the Strutt and meets that filly on 2kg better weight terms for a 1.5-length defeat.
Both have raced six times, Moorlands Miss with two wins and three placings, Silver Dagger with three wins and three placings.
Trainer Glenn Stevenson is happy with Moorlands Miss since her Derby run but concedes the Oaks will be a tough race to win.
"Happy with her, no soreness through her legs, she galloped good the other day, she galloped with Ashy Boy and galloped better than him," Stevenson said.
Strutt winner Suntora has been stabled with Stevenson since arriving in Tasmania, and he says the Nick Ryan filly has improved.
"It will be hard to beat, it's come on, she seems to be going very well, hasn't missed a beat in her work or feed.
"What we need is a genuinely run race, but the way Suntora finished off, she needs that too; she put them away pretty good."
Silver Dagger is one of two starters Jessie Bazan will have in the race. Snow Eagle, who ran third in the Strutt Stakes, is the other, and she is confident both will run well against the interstate opposition.
"We will defend the Island," Bazan predicted when asked about their chances.
Friday night also sees the unbeaten Unique Eagle attempt to take her winning sequence to five in the 1400m BM68.
Trainer Brad Franklin is opting for the easier assignment rather than having a tilt at the Group 3 Vamos Stakes on Cup Day.
It will be the first time Unique Eagle has raced beyond 1200m. All four of her wins have been at the Launceston track.
My best bet is Dynamic Theory if it gains a start in the first, and each-way Lontano in the second.
All the action can be seen on Tasracing Live, with Duncan Dornauf hosting the coverage.
Friday night kicks off a big week for the thoroughbred code, with the Magic Millions Yearling Sale to be held on Monday at Carrick, leading into the Launceston Cup meeting on Wednesday.
